Other Names:  Southern Magnolia

Description:

A spectacular flowering accent tree with a broad conical growth habit, smothered in showy and fragrant white cup-shaped flowers in spring; large, downward cupped, deep green glossy leaves have lighter green undersides

Ornamental Features

Greenback Magnolia is covered in stunning fragrant creamy white cup-shaped flowers with white overtones held atop the branches from mid spring to early summer. It has dark green foliage with green undersides. The large glossy pointy leaves turn coppery-bronze in the fall, which persists throughout the winter.

Landscape Attributes

Greenback Magnolia is an evergreen tree with a distinctive and refined pyramidal form. Its relatively coarse texture can be used to stand it apart from other landscape plants with finer foliage.

This is a relatively low maintenance tree, and should only be pruned after flowering to avoid removing any of the current season's flowers. Deer don't particularly care for this plant and will usually leave it alone in favor of tastier treats. It has no significant negative characteristics.

Greenback Magnolia is recommended for the following landscape applications;

• Accent
• Shade

Planting & Growing

Greenback Magnolia will grow to be about 40 feet tall at maturity, with a spread of 15 feet. It has a low canopy with a typical clearance of 5 feet from the ground, and should not be planted underneath power lines. It grows at a fast rate, and under ideal conditions can be expected to live for 80 years or more.

This tree does best in full sun to partial shade. It requires an evenly moist well-drained soil for optimal growth, but will die in standing water. It is not particular as to soil type, but has a definite preference for acidic soils. It is somewhat tolerant of urban pollution, and will benefit from being planted in a relatively sheltered location. Consider applying a thick mulch around the root zone in winter to protect it in exposed locations or colder microclimates. This is a selection of a native North American species.